Plans dropped for Black footed ferret reintroduction

Laramie, Wy – A plan to reintroduce the black-footed ferret in Albany County in southern Wyoming has been canceled. State game officials blame a petition by environmental groups togive the animal more protection as an endangered species. Environmental advocates counter that opponents of the Endangered Species Act are using unwarranted fears to undermine protection for the ferret. Bob Oakleaf of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department says the agency intended to release about 60 black-footed ferrets. But he says the two landowners fear a successful petition willresult in government restrictions on their private land. Duane Short of the Biodiversity Conservation Alliance saidlandowners should have no such fears.